Tips on Making School Lunches Fun and HealthyBrought to You By Woolworths!

Jody Allen Founder/Chief Content Editor
Jody is the founder and essence of Stay at Home Mum. An insatiable appetite for reading from a very young age had Jody harbouring dreams of being a published author since primary school. That deep seeded need to write found its way to the public eye in 2011 with the launch of SAHM. Fast forward 4 years and a few thousand articles Jody has fulfilled her dream of being published in print. With the 2014 launch of Once a Month Cooking and 2015’s Live Well on Less, thanks to Penguin Random House, Jody shows no signs of slowing down. The master of true native content, Jody lives and experiences first hand every word of advertorial she pens.
Mum to two magnificent boys and wife to her beloved Brendan; Jody’s voice is a sure fire winner when you need to talk to Mums.

Tips on Making School Lunches Fun and Healthy

My sons go into Years 6 and 5 this year, so I think it is about time that they start making their own school lunches. Like most kids, they need a bit of guidance when it comes to healthy choices…. I know they would pack chocolate biscuits and chips if they had it their way. But we have really been focusing on healthy eating at home, and I’ve been making food fun – and the boys are really getting involved.

What Makes a Healthy School Lunch Box

A nutritious lunch box includes each of the five food groups – vegetables, fruit, dairy (or alternatives), grains and protein. Balance is important in a lunch box and as a general guide, a packed lunch should include:

Pre-Packaged Foods

Pre-packaged foods have copped a bad rap over the years, but now at Woolworths there are Health Star Ratings so you can tell at a glance which options are the best choice for your child. The Health Star Rating is a voluntary Government led front-of-pack nutrition labeling system. The star rating ranges from 1/2 to 5 stars based on the overall nutrient profile of the food. It has been designed to help Aussies make healthier food choices when comparing packaged foods within the same category. Limit the amount of pre-packaged items to two maximum per lunch box.

Woolworths Original Gluten Free Popcorn (10 Pack)

Woolworths Yogurt Pouches

Woolworths Kids Banana Flavoured Milk – this is one of my favourites as it has 25% less sugar than the average of other flavoured milks and a Health Star Rating of 4.5/5. It has also been taste tested by kids and 36 out of 40 kids surveyed by Woolworths said they like this product, so it’s a proven winner too.

This 10-Pack of Original Popcorn from Woolworths are only $2.75 with a four-star health rating!

Gluten Free Options:

My husband is gluten intolerant so we have been stocking the pantry with loads of gluten-free options – and they are just delicious! Here are some of my favourites!

B-Free Wraps come in a few flavours. I’m a fan of these because they are pliable wraps – most gluten free items tend to break really easily – these ones don’t!

Orgran Gluten Free Buckwheat Crispbread. I love a smear of peanut-butter on these. Sure you can’t put peanut butter on them for school, but you can use them in place of bread and stack them full of fresh salad and chicken!